High Hopes Remain For PA Fracking Plant

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Despite delays in environmental permitting and financing, an entrepreneur says he still hopes by mid-March to have a demonstration plant running to recycle polluted water from Pennsylvania's booming natural gas drilling. The Tribune-Democrat Johnstown reports that Aspen Fluid Logistics founder David Reifsnyder says he hopes the demonstration plant will attract investors and help him expand the operation.

The demonstration plant is planned for a former Bethlehem Steel property. Reifsnyder had initially hoped to have the demonstration plan open months ago. He expects to sell the purified water back to the industry, which uses millions of gallons of water to drill each Marcellus Shale well. Reifsnyder says the demonstration plant will be able to treat as much as 50,000 gallons a day, if it operates around the clock.